Dear Parishioners:
The Meeting of Joachim and Anne outside the Golden Gate of Jerusalem, by Filippino Lippi (1497)
This Friday, July 26, we celebrate the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus and the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Their lives are honored and revered in the Catholic tradition. Saint Anne is the patron of grandparents, couples without children, women in labor, and women unable to conceive. Similarly, Saint Joachim is considered the patron of grandfathers, fathers, and grandparents.
As we reflect on the legacy of Saints Anne and Joachim, let us also reflect on the vital role all grandparents play in family life and nurturing the faith of future generations. Grandparents have a vital part in the training of their grandchildren, teaching them to love the ways of the Lord and honor his commandments. Saints Anne and Joachim cultivated in the young Mary a love for God, preparing her for her role in the story of divine redemption.
Pope Francis said: "In their home, Mary came into the world, accompanied by the extraordinary mystery of the Immaculate Conception. Mary grew up in the home of Joachim and Anne; she was surrounded by their love and faith; in their home, she learned to listen to the Lord and to follow his will. Saints Joachim and Anne were part of a long chain of people who had transmitted their faith and love for God, expressed in the warmth and love of family life, down to Mary, who received the Son of God in her womb and who gave him to the world, to us. How precious is the family as the privileged place for transmitting the faith!"
Grandparents' roles in imparting wisdom and tradition are vital. Their experience in faith and life has enriched their judgment, rendering them invaluable counsels for the generations that follow. They remember the heritage of the family and share it with future generations. I only knew my Father's parents, as my Mother's parents died well before I was born. My Grandparents were an important part of our lives as children. I have very happy memories of spending vacations with them during the summers of the 1970s. Indeed, they played an important role in my faith and learning about our family history and traditions.
In 2021, Pope Francis established an annual celebration of the World Day for Grandparents and Elderly on the fourth Sunday of July, near the liturgical memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne. He said of grandparents: "Grandparents are like the wisdom of the family; they are the wisdom of a people. And a people that does listen to grandparents is one that dies! Listen to your grandparents. Mary and Joseph are the family, sanctified by the presence of Jesus who is the fulfilment of all God's promises."
So please pray for your grandparents this week. And if your grandparents are alive, call them or visit them. Spending time with grandparents is an important part of any child's life. Their role is essential in family life not only because of their wisdom, experience, and faith but also for their practical help in raising children.
I head to Indianapolis, Indiana, for the Annual Summer Meeting of the National Association of State Catholic Conference Directors this Sunday night. About 35 state directors gather to review legislative efforts and public policy issues affecting the Church and the common good. I return late on Wednesday night.
Pilgrims on route to the Eucharistic Congress
This past week, Indianapolis hosted the first National Eucharistic Congress in 83 years! Bishop Henning led a pilgrimage of the faithful from the Diocese of Providence to the Congress. They joined with thousands of Catholics from across the country, celebrating the Eucharist as the source and summit of our faith lives.
Since early May, Catholics have been on a pilgrimage to the Congress from New Haven, Connecticut, Brownsville, Texas, San Francisco, California, and Northern Minnesota. These pilgrim routes were traveled by several young adult pilgrims accompanied by priest chaplains and seminarians. These groups processed to Indianapolis with the Holy Eucharist in a monstrance specially designed for the pilgrimage.
Pray that the Eucharistic Congress bears much spiritual fruit and leads to a renewal of Eucharistic Life in the Church in our nation. Be well. Do good. God Bless. Go Sox!!!